Free Will and the Human Sciences in Britain, 1870-1910 (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780822964766)

From the late nineteenth century onwards religion gave way to science as the dominant force in society. This led to a questioning of the principle of free will--if the workings of the human mind could be reduced to purely physiological explanations, then what place was there for human agency and self-improvement? Smith takes an in-depth look at the problem of free will through the prism of different disciplines. Physiology, psychology, philosophy, evolutionary theory, ethics, history and sociology all played a part in the debates that took place. His subtly nuanced navigation through these arguments has much to contribute to our understanding of Victorian and Edwardian science and culture, as well as having relevance to current debates on the role of genes in determining behaviour.

Author: Roger Smith
ISBN-10: 0822964767
ISBN-13: 9780822964766
Publisher: University of Pittsburgh Press
Language: English
Published: 12/16/2016
Pages: 288
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.93lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.64d